AWACS at Manchester

[Jodel Hugger]

Hi,

I'm asking this hear as I'm sure yiou guys will now.
Can someone expalin what an AWACS was doing on approach to Manchester a couple of nights back? Why do these planes come in to civil airports? Do the radar domes always spin, or only when they are looking at somethink.

Thanks

[Pie Man]

JH

Nothing unusual to see and E-3 at Manchester. Probably doing a practice diversion - ie simulating not being able to get into Waddington.

Regards

PM

[bagpuss lives]

The E3 did a practice diversion / missed approach - quite common these days although slightly more unusual at EGCC (still nothing too out of the oridnary though)

The aircraft come into civil airports for varying reasons including but not specifically weather (for example - when some of the close by mil airfields got fogged in a few months ago we ended up with a couple of RAF tristars - always nice to see ), training, technical diversions, operational requirements, positioning for displays etc etc

Can't answer the radar spin question sorry.

hth

[zed3]

The radome always turns when the a/c is in the air in order to keep the bearings oiled, seemingly .

[Jinkster]

Just wondered,

Why is it that the AWACS and other NATO aircraft say NATO then OTAN - any ideas?

[DCS99]

NATO-OTAN

OTAN is French for NATO, but I think you knew that already

[Unwell_Raptor]

OTAN is the French version (of course!)

[Squadgy]

Organisation du Traite de l'Atlantique Nord

[longarm]

..obviously its so that when you see them in your rear view mirror you can see who it is !

[McD]

The dome spins at two speeds, but as zed3 says, it always does spin (at one speed or the other) while flying.

[Bagso]

...and Manchester is still a master diversion airfield for the RAF.

This is the 2/3 E3 in as many weeks.

They like the beer.....!